​Having a dog with arthritic conditions can be upsetting and challenging for owners. Whilst it is important to receive specific advice from your veterinary physiotherapist, especially when it comes to exercise treatments, dietary plans and any medicinal treatments or surgical plans, there are some ways you can help a dog with arthritis at home.

Turn on the TV or radio when you are not home

This is a simple thing to do but can be beneficial to dogs that have severe mobility issues. Turning on the TV or radio to something peaceful can help drown out other noises such as children playing upstairs, or post getting delivered, which can cause your dog to automatically spring into action and potentially injure themselves. The last thing you want is for them to accidentally cause damage or injury to themselves or be in pain, especially when they are alone or unsupervised.

Incorporate certain foods into their diets

Oily fish and sweet potato are just two foods that are sometimes recommended for dogs with arthritis. Studies have shown that oily fish such as salmon, sardines or mackerel can decrease inflammation that is associated with arthritis in dogs. Make sure you choose plain fish as opposed to those based in a tomato or spicy sauce as these can be harmful or toxic to dogs. 

Sweet potato is a food that many dogs find easy to digest and can help provide them with a beta carotene boost which has also been proven to reduce arthritic inflammation. Again, serve this plain as opposed to in butter or milk. 

Whilst these foods can be good for your dog, it is imperative that you discuss with your vet before you introduce any new foods into your dog’s diet. They will be able to confirm whether this is a good idea or not, as well as let you know what portions and frequency you should be feeding them. 

Go for walks for some relief

Whilst a dog with severe arthritis will naturally be more sedentary, it is important to continue to walk them every day, even if it is not the same pace or distance they used to do. Try to keep your dog moving constantly throughout the walk and try to aim for 20 minutes per day (ideally two 20-minute walks per day). Try and avoid your dog stopping to sniff all the time as stopping and starting is something you don’t want to happen. Start with five minutes of slow walking to help your dog build its pace. Spend 10 minutes walking quicker, then use the final five minutes as a cool down where you reduce the speed back down.

Avoid mobility commands where possible

Whilst you will sometimes still have to use mobility commands, try to avoid them where possible. Using commands to get them to “sit” or “lay down” in exchange for a treat can potentially make them uncomfortable or cause them pain. Instead, you can exchange treats for a kiss or hug, or hide them around the home in places where your dog won't have to exert themselves to reach.

Dog Massage 

Massage therapy is a common method for coping with arthritis and, whilst it is advised to go to a specialist for a more intense massage, there are some easy to learn techniques that you can apply at home. Massage can help get your dog’s blood flowing to the arthritic areas and can help to temporarily reduce the pain and stiffness, sometimes for several hours. 

Apply a heat pad

Massage therapy can be used in conjunction with heat therapy. Apply a dog friendly heat pad onto your dog’s arthritic areas. Make sure you supervise your dog whilst the heating pad is on them and don’t leave them unattended with the heat pad on.

Keep your dog's nails trimmed

If your dog has nails that are too long, they can annoy them and cause them to walk differently which can lead to them distributing their weight in a way that aggravates their arthritis. This is commonly done by a groomer or a veterinarian, but you can also do this at home yourself with a pair of pet-safe nail clippers.

Consider their dog bed carefully 

Dogs that suffer from arthritis ideally need something to cushion the joints that are hurting them most. With this in mind, you may want to consider investing in more than one dog bed and having them located in the rooms where the family spends the most time. This means your dog can comfortably spend time with its family. This is also great for houses that have hardwood floors which don’t provide any support or comfort.
You can also purchase specific orthopedic dog beds. Whilst all your dog beds don’t need to be orthopedic, you may want to invest in one for their main bed as they can make a big difference to the dog’s stiffness and overall mobility. Make sure you do sufficient research before buying to ensure you are purchasing one that best suits your dog's needs.
Buy rugs if you have hardwood flooring 

If you have hardwood flooring, then make sure you have areas with rugs on the floor to help provide your dog with some much needed cushioning. Use rug grips or specific carpet tape to make sure the rugs are secure as it will help to stop your dog from tripping on them or sliding. 

Consider indoor pee solutions

Many dogs that suffer from arthritis end up having bladder issues. It can be difficult for them to keep going outside to go to the toilet, so you may want to consider some indoor alternatives. Pee blankets or pee turf can both be purchased for this purpose and may be something you want to do additional research into. 

Use gates

We thoroughly believe that prevention is the best cure, and one way to prevent your dog from injuring themselves further is to install gates around your home, particularly on the stairs. Having a gate installed will prevent your dog from needlessly climbing the stairs or jumping on the sofa and putting additional, unnecessary strain on the arthritic area. You can also install them throughout the home if there are certain rooms you don’t want your dog to enter. It can be an effective way to reduce the risk of further injuries or damage.

Use pet steps or a ramp

You can purchase a small set of steps or a ramp that is specifically designed for dogs with mobility issues and can be used to help them to get in and out of the car, on and off the bed or sofa, or up any big steps. You can purchase foldable steps which are practical as they don’t take up much space. 

Medicines and supplements

There are many medicines and supplements that can be taken in order to help your dog’s arthritis and, whilst these will be administered at home, we are not going to go into detail in this article about which medicines are available. You should discuss any medications with your vet and veterinary therapist as each patient is unique and will therefore need a unique treatment plan to suit.
Whilst these in isolation may not help you see the desired results, combining them along with the medical advice given by your veterinary physiotherapist can ensure your dog is as comfortable as possible at home. ​

​Dorsal Spinous Process Impingement (DSPI), also referred to as Kissing Spine Syndrome, is a condition that is unfortunately common in the equine world. It involves the horse’s vertebrae rubbing together, causing a lot of pain, swelling, and discomfort. Here, we are providing a more detailed overview of Kissing Spine Syndrome in horses.

What are the symptoms of Kissing Spines?

Kissing Spine Syndrome is often a cause of poor performance or abnormality in a horse’s gait. Unfortunately, the condition is often not detected until a significant impact on performance is spotted which is not ideal when trying to treat the condition and there is still a lot left to learn about the condition. The condition can affect any horse whether it competes at a high level or is a general all-rounder. It can also be seen in ponies.

Kissing spines can be caused by direct trauma to the back – such as rearing over backwards or a heavy fall onto one side. Poor saddle fit, foot pain and poor rider ability can all lead to a compromised posture which in turn may cause inflammation and pain in the back. Importantly there are often other problems going on which begin to cause the poor spinal posture which leads to Kissing Spines ie. hindlimb and pelvic issues or cervical muscle and joint pain. Kissing spines is rarely a stand-alone condition and your vet and veterinary physiotherapist will take a thorough case history and detailed assessment in order to tailor any rehabilitation programme to the individual horses needs.

In addition to gait issues and an overall decline in performance, kissing spines can be accompanied by some of the following symptoms:

• Difficulty in maintaining a canter gait 
• Becoming irritable when the girth is tightened 
• Difficulty in grooming the horse’s back due to pain or discomfort 
• Refusing or struggling to do certain schooling exercises
• Violent response when saddling or mounting 
• An inability to lie down in the stable or roll in the field (in severe cases)
  
  

Whilst these symptoms do not automatically mean the horse in question has kissing spines, it is imperative that you discuss these symptoms with your equine vet or veterinary therapist.
 
Diagnosis 

Once these symptoms have been identified, further examinations and observations will have to take place to receive an accurate diagnosis. There have been recent advances in this area that allows imaging procedures like ultrasounds and radiographs to allow strong visualisation of the bone structure and can help identify lesions that previously were difficult or impossible to see. Nuclear scintigraphy (bone scans) and a thorough manual assessment can also be used to reveal the extent of the damage caused by this condition to the soft tissues.

Different Grades
There are different grades of severity when it comes to kissing spine syndrome which can usually be identified through radiographs.

• Grade 1- lesions involve only a narrowing of space between spinal processes 
• Grade 2- lesions show an increase in bone density at the margins of the spinal processes
• Grade 3- lesions show loss of bone adjacent to the margins of the spinal processes
• Grade 4- lesions involve severe remodelling of the spinal processes due to chronic irritation
  
  

Non-Surgical Treatment 
As with most conditions, there is not a one size fits all option when it comes to the treatment of kissing spine syndrome. It is important for horse owners to understand that the condition is not felt equally among all horses. Some horses with lesions may suffer from extreme pain which can severely impact their performance, whilst other horses may be able to tolerate the lesions and you may not see much difference in their performance or ability.
Each horse is different, and the approach to treatment will also be different depending on the nature of the horse as well as the grade and severity of the lesions. 
Corticosteroid injections are sometimes administered around the lesions. This is often combined with a course of physiotherapy as well as periods of rest. After the rehabilitation period, the horse will be reassessed to see how its performance is.
Acupuncture, mesotherapy, physiotherapy, and shockwave therapy have also been used and, in some cases, been proven to be successful treatments for the condition.

Surgery
For many horses, the best treatment option is surgery. The procedure usually involves an incision at the top of the spinal processes and a couple of inches of bone is removed. The space left after the bone removal will be filled with fibrous tissue over time. It is important to note that the surgery route and success will depend on the rehabilitation and recovery programme put in place, tailored to that horse.
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If you notice that your horse appears to be in pain, or has a violent response to saddling, brushing, or mounting, or if your horse seems to be struggling with exercises or movement, it is important you contact an equine specialist. Whilst the condition may be due to something else, the most common cause of back pain in horses is kissing spine syndrome and, if your horse does indeed have it, your equine vet and veterinary physiotherapist will be able to assess the severity of the condition and will be able to put a comprehensive treatment plan in place.